DAVIDSON COUNTY – Months before residents head to the polls to decide who will represent the Republican Party in the November election for Davidson County sheriff, candidates Gerald Hege and incumbent David Grice are urging many Democrats switch over to unaffiliated or Republican so they can get a boost in the May primary.

As of Thursday, 440 more residents have registered as unaffiliated when compared to last January, according to the Davidson County Board of Elections office. Residents can change their party affiliation until 5 p.m. April 9 to vote in the May 4 primary, said Ruth Huneycutt, director of the Davidson County Board of Elections.

“I think what’s sparking the interest is that a lot of Democrats want to help me out to keep me in office,” said David Grice, the incumbent sheriff of Davidson County. “I’m sure (Hege is) saying the same thing that a lot of Democrats want to put him in office.”

In the GOP primary, only Republicans and those who are unaffiliated can vote for Grice, Hege and Terry Price, who announced last year their intentions to run for sheriff. Candidate filing begins Feb. 8 and ends Feb. 26.

Hege, who sparked interest in the sheriff race when he announced his candidacy in November, said he has helped register between 150 to 200 people as unaffiliated. State law does allow candidates to hand out registration forms, but county board of elections offices must verify and process any changes.

“We have seen an increase in unaffiliated,” Hege said. “Normally, I would push Republican Party on these things because I’ve been known for that in the past ... A lot of people just won’t go that extra step, especially African-Americans, to go to being Republican, but they will go unaffiliated. That’s kind of what we have been pushing.”

Ralph Burroughs, a volunteer with the Price campaign, said he thought “it was a wonderful thing” that Grice and Hege are helping residents change their party affiliation. Burroughs said he didn’t know of the Price campaign participating in efforts to change party affiliations.

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